Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY290498 Unique Reference Number 02 November 2007 Inspection date Suzanne Joyce Stedman Inspector

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Childcare Type of inspection Childminding Type of care

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This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

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ABOUT THIS INSPECTION

The purpose of this inspection is to assure government, parents and the public of the quality of childcare and, if applicable, of nursery education. The inspection was carried out under Part XA Children Act 1989 as introduced by the Care Standards Act 2000 and, where nursery education is provided, under Schedule 26 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. This report details the main strengths and any areas for improvement identified during the inspection. The judgements included in the report are made in relation to the outcomes for children set out in the Children Act 2004; the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding; and, where nursery education is provided, the Curriculum guidance for the foundation stage. The report includes information on any complaints about the childcare provision which Ofsted has received since the last inspection or registration or 1 April 2004 whichever is the later.

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The key inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Good: this aspect of the provision is strong Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is sound Inadequate: this aspect of the provision is not good enough

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The key inspection judgements and what they mean

For more information about early years inspections, please see the booklet Are you ready for your inspection? which is available from Ofsted's website: www.ofsted.gov.uk.

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

The quality and standards of the care are good. The registered person meets the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder was registered in September 2004. She lives with her husband and two children aged 12 and six years in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex. All areas of the childminder's house are used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children at any one time and is currently minding two children term time only. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. The childminder attends the local parent/toddler group.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder supports children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. She is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children play and learn in a clean and hygienic home environment which promotes their good health. The childminder has a good understanding of hygiene issues such as washing hands

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Helping children to be healthy

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 after changing nappies and cleaning the changing mat. The childminder has developed a comprehensive range of well-written ‘healthy child’ policies and procedures which underpin the childminder’s good working practice with the children. For example, clear procedures to be followed if a child becomes ill whilst at the childminder’s home.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children’s good health is promoted well because the childminder demonstrates a good understanding of all the documentation required. For example, allergies and medical conditions are recorded. The childminder has attended first aid training to enable her to deal with any emergencies. A first aid kit is located in the home and is included in an ‘outing's bag' so that children’s minor accidents can be effectively dealt with wherever they are.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy a range of healthy snacks such as, fruit, raw vegetables and bread sticks. The childminder has a good understanding of nutrition and encourages the children to eat a varied diet. The childminder encourages social mealtimes with the children, chatting with them about what they have been doing. All children have access to fresh drinking water throughout the day which ensures they remain hydrated.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy good and varied opportunities to develop their physical skills. For example, they go on outings to the local park and beach and the baby enjoys rolling from room to room and walking with the childminders support. The outside play area is well equipped with a range of resources to promote the children’s physical development. These planned activities encourage children to enjoy exercise and promote a good understanding that exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. Children learn about other aspects of good health as they use anti bacterial hand wash and talk about foods which are good for them.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children separate easily from their parents because they feel welcomed into the childminder’s comfortable home. Children play freely and safely in the home because they feel secure and relaxed. The childminder takes all the required precautions to ensure the home is safe for the children to be in. For example, stair gates are in place and electrical sockets are covered. A wide range of safety policies and procedures are also available in the parents' prospectus which provides them with reassurance that the childminder considers the children’s safety to be a priority.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children freely explore the beach with the childminder always under her watchful eye. Babies and children are able to play in an environment kept safe by adults who know there should be a balance between freedom and safe limits.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children play with a good range of clean and safe toys and resources easily accessible to them in low-level storage boxes in the home. A further range of equipment is also stored in the home and garden which enables toys to be rotated to offer variety and challenge. Children are provided with opportunities to explore their senses through some activities and resources such as play dough, sand and water. However, the range of resources depicting positive images of varying abilities is limited.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder is well aware and confident of the procedures to follow with any safeguarding children issues.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children enjoy a varied and wide range of activities and experiences provided in and out of the home. They benefit from the childminder’s understanding of the importance of ‘learning through play’ and how this promotes children’s all-round development. For example, visiting the beach to experience sensual play with the sand and water. The older child cared for has great fun watching and participating in her favourite television programmes such as, The Night Garden with Igglepiggle, Makka Pakka and three Tombliboos, the baby enjoys his interactive toys which makes animal sounds.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children’s language development is promoted well as they are constantly encouraged to make sounds by the childminder. Children's early mathematical skills are promoted very effectively as the childminder counts while changing the babies nappy and when walking up the stairs with the older child. They have good opportunities to use their imaginations and be creative through a range of resources and activities. Children benefit from visits to local beach, toddler groups and parks where they develop an understanding of their local community and the wider world.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The children are cared for in an environment where the childminder promotes equality of opportunity for all children. Children’s individual needs are met because the childminder gets to know the children well. She has some experience caring for children with speech delay. Children learn about the wider world and have some opportunities to learn about our differences and similarities through everyday opportunities and discussion with the childminder. Children learn about a range of traditional festivals such as Halloween, Christmas and Easter.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder works closely with parents to enable the children to settle well and to ensure children are cared for with consistency. The childminder makes time each day to speak to parents to share information about their child’s day so that they are well informed. Scrapbooks of children's artwork and photographs of them at play reassures parents that the children enjoy a wide range of experiences and are having a good time in the childminder's care.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder's excellent prospectus ensures that parents are fully informed about the childminder's working practices. Many references and thank you letters show that parents greatly appreciate the childminder's positive input to their children's early years.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are protected from non-vetted persons because the childminder ensures that all persons in the household are vetted and that non-vetted persons do not have unsupervised access to children. Children’s needs are met effectively because the childminder ensures that the required adult to child ratios and training requirements are met.

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Organisation

The childminder organises her time effectively to enable her to spend most of her day being actively involved with the children. She has completed the required childminder training.

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Organisation

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 The childminder is well aware of the requirements of her registration and she keeps documentation and records in very good order to promote the children’s welfare.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder agreed to make sure that the gas tap attached to the gas fire was safe or inaccessible. The childminder has had this fire professionally disconnected therefore children do not have access to this gas connection.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since the last inspection there have been no complaints made to Ofsted that required the provider or Ofsted to take any action in order to meet the National Standards.

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Complaints since the last inspection

The provider is required to keep a record of complaints made by parents, which they can see on request. The complaints record may contain complaints other than those made to Ofsted.

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

The quality and standards of the care are good. The registered person meets the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.

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The quality and standards of the care

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • develop resources and activities to show positive images of varying abilities.

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The quality and standards of the care

set out in the leaflet Complaints about Ofsted Early Years: concerns or complaints about Ofsted's role in regulating and inspecting childcare and early education (HMI ref no 2599) which is available from Ofsted's website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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The quality and standards of the care

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

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